On December 14, 2020 Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS), a biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, reported the closing of its underwritten public offering of 29,500,000 shares of its common stock, including the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to an additional 3,847,826 shares, at the public offering price of $5.75 per share (the Offering) (Press release, Curis, DEC 14, 2020, View Source [SID1234572801]). Curis expects the net proceeds from the Offering to be approximately $159.1 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.

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Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC acted as joint book-runners for the Offering. H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC and Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. acted as co-lead managers.

Curis intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering, together with its existing cash and cash equivalents, to continue development of CA-4948, in collaboration with Aurigene, and CI-8893, in collaboration with ImmuNext, and for general working capital and capital expenditures. Curis estimates that the net proceeds from the Offering, together with its existing cash and cash equivalents, will enable it to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into 2023.

The securities in the Offering were offered pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-224627) that was filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on May 3, 2018, and declared effective by the SEC on May 17, 2018 and an additional registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-251211) filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) which became automatically effective on December 9, 2020. The offering was made only by a means of a written prospectus and a prospectus supplement that form a part of the registration statement. A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the Offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may also be obtained by contacting Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Attention: Capital Markets, 499 Park Ave., 6th Floor, New York, New York 10022 or by email at [email protected].

The securities described above have not been qualified under any state blue sky laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

On December 14, 2020 AnPac Bio-Medical Science Co., Ltd. ("AnPac Bio," the "Company" or "we") (ANPC), a biotechnology company with operations in China and the United States focused on early cancer screening and detection, reported it has made significant progress in detecting pre-cancer diseases (Press release, Anpac Bio, DEC 14, 2020, View Source [SID1234572817]). This development was made via novel sensor design, sensor fabrication, detection process, signal collection, signal processing and proprietary algorithms, which has been validated in both multi-year retrospective and prospective, large sample and population studies. The Company recently completed a prospective large population screening of over 110,000 individuals (and over 150,000 samples throughout this study with some individuals tested multiple times over the years) using AnPac Bio’s Cancer Differentiation Analysis (CDA) technology. The follow-up study involved over ~ 13,000 individuals assessed with high cancer risk, medium cancer risk and low cancer risk using AnPac Bio’s CDA technology.

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Initial results indicated that AnPac Bio CDA technology is capable of providing meaningful information while also screening out pre-cancer diseases, with over 20 types of pre-cancer diseases diagnosed following initial screening utilizing CDA technology and subsequent confirmation by hospital or physical testing center health check-ups. Of the over 20 types of screened out pre-cancer cases, thyroid nodule/tumor ranked number one and pulmonary nodule ranked number two, with about 92.5% confirmed pre-cancer patients in medium to high risk cancer groups. Of the ~ 13,000 individuals, AnPac screened out and confirmed pre-cancer cases at roughly 4.5 times of that of cancer cases, strongly demonstrating that AnPac Bio CDA technology is sensitive to detecting pre-cancer diseases and it could play a critical role in cancer prevention.

Developing a viable pre-cancer and early-stage cancer screening technology has been a long-term goal of global scientists. However, its development and progress has been relatively slow, despite years of heavy investment and efforts by leading scientists and research groups. One of key factors inhibiting breakthroughs in cancer detection has been the lack of previous involvement and contributions of leading semiconductor detection experts (with sensor signal collection and processing).

AnPac Bio consists of research and development team with extensive knowledge and experience in detection technologies including novel and advanced detection technologies including highly sensitive sensor design and fabrications, as well as small signal collection and processing. AnPac’s founder, Dr. Chris Yu, graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a Ph. D. degree in novel detection technology which involved novel sensor design and fabrication, and small signal detection and processing. Mr. Du, vice president of research and development of AnPac Bio, has ten years of extensive integrated circuit (IC) processing and integration experience, which is critical in fabricating highly sensitive cancer detection sensors, at a New York Stock Exchange traded IC manufacturing company prior to joining AnPac Bio.

AnPac Bio has innovated and developed biophysics based detection technology (in which biophysical properties of blood are detected and analyzed) for pre-cancer disease and early stage cancer screening and detection. The Company is also one of the very first companies to champion multi-cancer detection idea and methodology. The employment of biophysical properties for cancer detection is novel and is an alternative approach to traditional methods, with advantages of being able to detect multiple cancer and pre-cancer types earlier, more cost effective, achieves higher sensitivity and specificity, and has relatively simple sample requirements and test procedures. Specifically, it could play an important role in democratizing cancer screening to large populations at an affordable cost.

Dr. Chris Yu, CEO and Chairman of AnPac Bio commented: "We are very pleased to have achieved this significant breakthrough in successfully detecting pre-cancer diseases, which is critical in cancer prevention and saving lives. From a commercialization perspective, this breakthrough has significant ramifications for market and customer needs, and revenue generation potential. AnPac Bio is very proud to be one of the first research groups to have achieved this important technical milestone, which will significantly expand AnPac Bio’s available market size and customer base, and play an important role in revenue generation for years to come."

On December 14, 2020 The board of directors of Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT) on Friday, December 11, 2020, approved the fiscal year 2021 third quarter cash dividend of $0.58 per ordinary share (Press release, Medtronic, DEC 14, 2020, View Source [SID1234572837]). This quarterly declaration is consistent with the dividend announcement made by the company in June 2020. Medtronic is a constituent of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index, having increased its annual dividend payment for the past 43 consecutive years. The dividend is payable on January 15, 2021, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 22, 2020.

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On December 14, 2020 RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (Nasdaq: RDHL) ("RedHill" or the "Company"), a specialty biopharmaceutical company, reported that the company was selected for addition to the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (NASDAQ: NBI) (Press release, RedHill Biopharma, DEC 14, 2020, View Source [SID1234572802]). The addition to the NBI will become effective prior to market open on Monday, December 21, 2020.

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The Index is used to designate a set of NASDAQ-listed securities to be acquired as part of index-defined funds to be used in investment portfolios. The biotechnology index is classified according to the Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB). Companies in the biotechnology index must meet eligibility requirements, including minimum market capitalization, average daily trading volume, seasoning as a public company, and other criteria. The index is evaluated annually and serves as the basis for the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index Fund.

For more information about the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index, including eligibility criteria, visit View Source

On December 14, 2020 Novocure (NASDAQ:NVCR) reported that the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) has added Optune in combination with temozolomide to the List of Remedies and Equipment (MiGeL) for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM), effective April 1, 2021 (Press release, NovoCure, DEC 14, 2020, View Source [SID1234572818]). The List of Remedies and Equipment defines which medical devices are covered by compulsory health insurance in Switzerland.

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"We are extremely pleased that Switzerland has established national reimbursement for Optune," said Thomas Hefti, Vice President Europe and Emerging Markets (EMEA). "Access to our therapy continues to grow throughout the world, demonstrating health insurers’ increasing recognition of Optune."

"National reimbursement of Optune for newly diagnosed GBM patients in Switzerland represents an incredible effort by our team to expand access to our therapy as well as an increased understanding of the benefits of our therapy among health insurers," said Pritesh Shah, Novocure’s Chief Commercial Officer. "We are proud of this accomplishment and will continue working diligently to expand access to GBM patients who may benefit."

About Optune
Optune is a noninvasive, antimitotic cancer treatment for GBM. Optune delivers Tumor Treating Fields to the region of the tumor.

Tumor Treating Fields is a cancer therapy that uses electric fields tuned to specific frequencies to disrupt cell division. Tumor Treating Fields does not stimulate or heat tissue and targets dividing cancer cells with specific membrane properties. Tumor Treating Fields causes minimal damage to healthy cells. Mild to moderate skin irritation is the most common side effect reported. Tumor Treating Fields is approved in certain countries for the treatment of adults with GBM and in the U.S. for MPM, two of the most difficult cancer types to treat. The therapy shows promise in multiple solid tumor types – including some of the most aggressive forms of cancer.

Approved Indications
Optune is intended as a treatment for adult patients (22 years of age or older) with histologically-confirmed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

Optune with temozolomide is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed, supratentorial glioblastoma following maximal debulking surgery, and completion of radiation therapy together with concomitant standard of care chemotherapy.

For the treatment of recurrent GBM, Optune is indicated following histologically- or radiologically-confirmed recurrence in the supratentorial region of the brain after receiving chemotherapy. The device is intended to be used as a monotherapy, and is intended as an alternative to standard medical therapy for GBM after surgical and radiation options have been exhausted.

Important Safety Information
Contraindications
Do not use Optune in patients with GBM with an implanted medical device, a skull defect (such as, missing bone with no replacement), or bullet fragments. Use of Optune together with skull defects or bullet fragments has not been tested and may possibly lead to tissue damage or render Optune ineffective.

Use of Optune for GBM together with implanted electronic devices has not been tested and may lead to malfunctioning of the implanted device.

Do not use Optune for GBM in patients known to be sensitive to conductive hydrogels. Skin contact with the gel used with Optune may commonly cause increased redness and itching, and may rarely lead to severe allergic reactions such as shock and respiratory failure.

Warnings and Precautions
Optune can only be prescribed by a healthcare provider that has completed the required certification training provided by Novocure.

The most common (≥10%) adverse events involving Optune in combination with chemotherapy in patients with GBM were thrombocytopenia, nausea, constipation, vomiting, fatigue, convulsions, and depression.

The most common (≥10%) adverse events related to Optune treatment alone in patients with GBM were medical device site reaction and headache. Other less common adverse reactions were malaise, muscle twitching, and falls related to carrying the device.

If the patient has an underlying serious skin condition on the treated area, evaluate whether this may prevent or temporarily interfere with Optune treatment.

Do not prescribe Optune for patients that are pregnant, you think might be pregnant or are trying to get pregnant, as the safety and effectiveness of Optune in these populations have not been established.